Distributed Storage

The device is described as a heat engine with no moving parts that is able to produce power from a heat source of between 1,900 to 2,400 C. This concept is known as thermal energy grid storage (TEGS) and consists of a low-cost, grid-scale storage technology that uses thermophotovoltaic cells to convert heat to electricity above 2,000 C.

Ensuring pragmatic energy storage transformation is proportional to tweaking the current battery storage chemistry. Zinc battery technology is gaining traction, changing the prevailing energy storage dynamics.

BSES Yamuna Power Limited has deployed a digital solution pilot project that predicts the energy demand at consumption points like electric vehicle charging stations and energy generation capacity at solar rooftops. This will help the utility plan to store excess energy by considering the distribution congestion and commercial aspects. 

Norwegian renewable energy developer Statkraft has partnered Norway’s green investment company Aker Horizons to explore fully-integrated renewable power generation and green hydrogen production in India, targeting local steel and fertilizer industries.

Chinese inverter maker Growatt has launched Infinity 1500, a portable power station for off-grid applications.

RK Singh, India’s power minister, and president of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly, called on nations to support solar investments in developing and under-developed regions, including Africa, through low-cost finance and credit guarantee fund.

Developed by Canadian start-up Salient Energy, the zinc-ion battery has a rated capacity of 60 Ah, a nominal voltage of 1.3 V, and a volumetric energy density of 100 Wh/L. The device measures 26cmx24cmx1.2cm and weighs in at 1.3 kg

Natural hydrogen is piquing interest. Sometimes referred to as “gold” or “white” hydrogen, natural hydrogen plants offer smaller carbon footprints than sprawling green hydrogen projects, with faster development times, according to Avon McIntyre, executive director of HyTerra.

Japan’s Panasonic claims its new pilot solar-plus-hydrogen facility marks the first attempt to create a factory powered by 100% renewables, via the full-scale use of hydrogen.

A new report by JMK Research and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) says India is likely to miss its ‘100GW by 2022’ solar target by about 27GW, mainly due to the underwhelming growth of rooftop solar. While utility-scale solar is on track to achieve nearly 97% of the 60GW installed capacity targeted by 2022, rooftop solar will be 25GW short of the 40GW mark.